Let's knit on! For many of us, it's a way of life and this blog is about sharing that experience….and a way to share the experiences of Skein Lane Knitters. I love knitting and it is indeed a way of life for me.

Posts Tagged ‘crafts’

Last weekend I saw an idea for Valentine’s gifts for my three nieces and nephew in Idaho. The next day (Sunday) I am in local fabric shop buying red felt for these Valentine themed bookmarks. The bookmarks were assembled by Sunday night with the exception of the ribbon and buttons (to weight the book mark). It was then a simple matter of sewing the button to the ribbon which I did on Wednesday night….don’t want to rush into these things. Haha! I packaged these Thursday morning…drove to Safeway early (@ 6:45 am on my way to work) to add Barnes and Noble gift cards (my late night idea)..mailed Priority Package. Should be in Idaho today.

Memory: It’s the early 1970’s…..it was a family affair. My mom, grandmother, sister and I spent many sessions at the ceramic shop. We painted Christmas decorations, trees, flower pots, canisters…you name it and we probably painted it.

My hometown friend Don Churches just posted photos of the Singer Castle. Be sure to check out this album for an “armchair” historical tour . Who knew there was such a castle? I think my Singer (Mom’s 1954 Singer) looks like it’s part of this collection. Have to say Mom’s singer has performed for us all of these years….it was the machine I used when I first learned to sew….and still use from time to time.

Who still sews? Anybody want to share some of their accomplishments? We knit, we sew, we craft, we bead, we make glass…and that’s just a sampling of the creative talent that abounds.

I save almost everything…my grammar school report cards, 1st bookmark I made for my mother, my autograph book from 5th grade….you would think I would have saved the program from the field trip to Fort Masonto the Norway Day Festival. This was just last Sunday….where did I put the materials? Oh well….the power of the internet comes to the rescue!

Vista on our walk from bus to Ft Mason

A few of us knitters and a spouse boarded Bart and headed to San Franciso ….we then hopped onto a Muni-bus…..rode to the last stop on that line….then trekked for a distance from Bay St to Pope passing Aquatic Parkon our right. It was a lovely hike and majestic to see the Golden Gate Bridge come into view.

Overlooking Ft Mason view into Golden Gate Bridge

We walked a little further until we came upon the staircase that would take us down to Pier Level to Fort Mason….and there it was…the 20th Norway Day Festival.

Guess what drew us to the festival…yep it was knitting! One of the first vendors we saw was the Lacy Knitters Guild – Spindles and Flyers. The spinners were comfortably seated…spinning. In the background was a woman of 90 arranging knitted works….one of which was knit by her grandmother from an originalrayon. This is a bit of family history that I would love to have explored!

Spinners of Lacy Knitting Guild

Woman of 90 years of age arranging display

Display knit piece with original rayon!

We began walking up the first aisle of two…and we were quickly taken with so many visual wonders. The Norwegian arts are bright and inviting. We stopped at RanDisign booth which was stocked with knitted and felted wonders as well as beautiful crocheted jewelry.

RanDisign – Felted Scarves

RanDisign Jewelry

RanDisign – Owner Randi Adams

One of the next booths of visual delight was Viking Pottery….I love pottery.. if I had more rooms or even space in existing rooms I would have brought something(s) home from this booth. I first chatted with the woman in the booth…assuming that she was artist and that she was accompanied by the man next to her…..wrong he was the artist and she was accompanying him.

Pottery by HARALD ERIC NORDVOLD

At random some of the other delights included the tole work, the painted clogs, the Norweigan dress, the skaters….

Skaters

Norwegian Dress

Clogs at Mi Disign

California Rosemalers Assoc

….now I was off to a “movie” break in the Festival. The rest of the gang was doing their personal tour…the joy of such friendships is that we can travel at our own pace and meet back to share our discoveries.

Will be back in the morning with the conclusion to this wonderful adventure!